Gilliard

Gilliard is the final episode of Boudewijn Koole's documentary series in three parts Pierlala. Gilliard is an 8-year-old boy who likes rascality, firing guns and film. It is his great dream to make a Western himself once. One day, he gets ill. Inside his head, docters find a brain tumour. By means of radiation and surgery, the tumour is successfully suppressed. Everything seems to end well, until a few days after the operation Gilliard lapses into a coma. When he regains consciousness after fifteen days, he is blind and unable to walk. The films starts when Gilliard begins to fight against his handicaps. His optimism is invincible. Personally, he feels that nothing has changed. Gilliard seizes the documentary that is being made about him to realise his dream. As a cowboy, he makes quick work of all his troubles. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)